Error Message

I am new, so first thanks for being here and offering to help.

I have an IBM Clone with Win Xp Pro on it. For no reason at all when I am doing nothing, or shutting down for the night.. I get an error message "Privileged Instruction". I AM the Administrator. I cannot seem to find what causes this or how to fix it. My other error message is Access Violations at write address of.. these have become less frequent, but the Privileged Instruction one is several times a day. Sure would appreciate the help on this. Thanks, Jo-Anna

 

It sounds like some program is doing stuff in the background and occasionally causes this error. That makes sense if you consider you said it occurs at shutdown. that means the program is running and triggers the error. To find out what it could be try and find some clues in your Events Logs. Control Panel > Adminstative Tools > Event Viewer, look under all the sections (applications/system etc.) for any errors that occur near the time your machine errors and examine their properties to see if you can get a clue to what program or service is responsible.

 

Thanks so much Appzalien for responding.. I did what you suggested.. and am even more confused.. I can attach the log if you want me too.. I see things.. but none if it makes sense to me. I went to the links for help.. that was no help..lol let me know if you want to see the log. Why would this msg happen when the computer is on screensaver and nobody is even near it? Again, Thanks, Jo-Anna

 

Thanks for the help.. can you please be more specific in where and how to find out if my cpu is running in the user mode and not kernal.?
Here is one of the current error msgs..

Windows saved user JO-***** ( numbers )\Jo-Anna registry while an application or service was still using the registry during log off. The memory used by the user's registry has not been freed. The registry will be unloaded when it is no longer in use.

This is often caused by services running as a user account, try configuring the services to run in either the LocalService or NetworkService account. It says the user is.. NT AUTHORITY\SYSTEM ?? Thanks Jo-Anna

 

Thanks!! when the error happens at shut down.. I hear it.. but cannot see it.. maybe if I reboot right after it happens it will be in the log.. I will repost to you as soon as I can see the red x with the error msg... here is one.. but no numbers... I have this several times then a yellow warning one..
Faulting application explorer.exe, version 6.0.2900.3156, faulting module unknown, version 0.0.0.0, fault address 0x03046010.

yellow one...Windows saved user JO-8EF6BAD4504D\Jo-Anna registry while an application or service was still using the registry during log off. The memory used by the user's registry has not been freed. The registry will be unloaded when it is no longer in use.



This is often caused by services running as a user account, try configuring the services to run in either the LocalService or NetworkService account.

I have no clue how to check if I am running in User mode... etc.. Thanks so much for your time.. it really is appreciated. Jo-Anna

 

It is Tues. 2:47PM.. I just now got the PRIVILEGED INSTRUCTION message. I had just closed my Real Player.. I immed. went to control panel.. admin tools.. to the event viewer.. there was not one thing in any of the cat. with this date and time at all! So now what?? Grr.. How and where do I go to check what mode I am running in.. ie.. user.. local.. or whatever I should be in? Thanks, Jo-Anna